Swimming figure toy



Filed Dec. 16, 1964 SWIMMING FIGURE TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIGQZ INVENTORS VINCE A LOSONCZY JOHN A. LOSONCZY L AW ATTORNEYS y 1967 v. A. LOSONCZY ETAL 3,332,165

SWIMMING FIGURE TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1964 Hz CMIAW mm w. O 0 N W w? M N N m n In 1 A m w 1 v YCJW July 25, 1967 Filed Dec. 16, 1964 V. A. LOSONCZY ETAL SWIMMING FIGURE TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS VINCE A-LOSONCZY BY JOHN A- LOSONCZY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,332,165 SWIMMING FIGURE TOY Vince Ambrosio Losonezy and John Ambrosio Losonczy, both of 122 Evergreen Drive, Dover, Del. 19905 Filed Dec. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 418,604 3 Claims. (Cl. 4692) The present invention relates to an aquatic toy and more particularly to a swimming figure which simulates the natural movements of a swimmer using the overhead or crawl stroke.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a swimming figure which simulates the natural movements of a swimmer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming figure which effects the overhead arm motion of a swimmer simultaneously with the flutter kicking motion of a swimmer.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a swimming toy simulating a swimmer whose swimming motion is efiected only when the toy is in horizontal position.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a swimming figure having a rigid torso, arms independently rotatably joined to said torso, legs pivotably connected to said torso, means to rotate said arms around the junction to said said torso, and means in connection with said means to rotate said arms to pivot said legs in a limited distance about the pivotable connection to said torso whereby said arms effect a motion in the form of a cone and said legs simultaneously effect a fluttering motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swimming figure which simulates all or some of the natural movements of a swimmer with respect to the hands, arms, shoulders, neck, hand, hips, legs and ankles.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the swimming figure showing the motion of the arms and legs.

FIGURE 2 is a top cross-section view of the swimming figure showing the actuating mechanism.

FIGURE 3 is a side cross-section View of the swimming figure along lines 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a partially detailed cross-section view of the swimming figure along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partially detailed cross-section view of the swimming figure along lines 55 of FIGURE 2 showing the independent arm movement.

. FIGURE 6 is a detail view of one embodiment of a universal arm joint.

FIGURE 7 is a detail view of another embodiment of a universal arm joint.

We have developed a swimming figure utilizable as an aquatic toy. This figure simulates some or all of the movements effected by an actual swimmer, particularly a swimmer utilizing the overhead or crawl stroke in combination with a flutter kick. In particular the swimming figure contains a mechanism for effecting an arm rotation in the form of a cone with its apex at the shoulder joint by the use of a universal joint arm attachment and an offset arm rotation mechanism. The arms can be mounted so that they may be individually rotated against the normal rotation in order that the arms can operate in a variety of cycles with reference to each other. Another feature of the invention involves the use of a gravitation lock on the order of an escapement whereby all motion of the figure is stopped when the figure is in any position other than horizontal. Optionally the operating mechanism of the swimming figure can operate leg extensions 3,332,165 Patented July 25, 1967 pivoted about a pin in the neighborhood of the hip whereby a flutter flick is effected by the legs. If desired the hands and feet of the swimming figure can be hinged whereby frictional drag of the hands and feet as they are on the up stroke toward the surface of the water is lowered. Furthermore the swimming figure can be provided with a mechanism to effect a partial rotation of the head about a neck pivot with an alternate arm stroke to simulate the breathing cycle of a swimmer utilizing the overhead or crawl stroke.

The mechanism which operates the arms, and/or legs and/or head is a simple arrangement of proper sized gears and offset cranks mounted on a frame which can be inserted in the torso of the swimming figure. The mechanism can be driven by customary methods such as a wind-up spring motor or an electric motor operated by batteries. If a wind-up spring motor is utilized, it is preferable to wind the same by a key which can be detachably or permanently mounted on the figure. It is also possible to effect a winding of the spring motor by rotating the arms in a reverse direction. However, if this embodiment is utilized, the feature of an independent setting of the arms with reference to each other must be eliminated.

The swimming figure may be of varied size and can be constructed of various materials such as rubber, plastic resins of various types, or other material. The interior of the figure is hollow and the figure must be of watertight construction in order to maintain buoyancy. By a proper selection of weighting and buoyant members, the swimming figure is partially submerged when placed in water, similar to the position in water of an actual swimmer.

It is possible to utilize a soft pliable rubber coating over the arm-shoulder and hip-leg joints in order that they be watertight and capable of movement, other watertight types of construction however can be employed. Preferably the swimming figure is constructed of two pieces containing soft pliable connections between the shoulders and the arms and the legs and the hips. Such a two-piece construction is preferably separated at the waist and a simulated bathing suit of rubber-like material can cover the joint to make the same watertight.

As an illustration of the swimming figure we have shown one embodiment of the same in FIGURES l to 7.

In FIGURE 1, a perspective view of the swimming figure 10 is illustrated showing the circular motion of the arms 11 and 12 and the flutter kicking motion of the legs 13 and 14.

In FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5, a cross-section top view (FIGURE 2) and a cross-section side view (FIGURE 3 along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2) and two cross-sectional side views (FIGURE 4 along lines 4--4 of FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 5 along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 2) are illustrated shown the swimming figure 10 in particular detail with respect to the drive mechanism 15. This drive mechanism 15 consists of a frame 16 having shoulder extensions 17. Within frame 16 are disposed an arm shaft 18, a leg shaft 19, a gravitation lock shaft 20 and a hip joint shaft 21. Leg extension bars 22 and 23 are pivoted on the hip joint shaft 21 and extend into the legs 13 and 14. The opposite extension of the leg extension bars extends beyond the leg shaft 19. This leg shaft 19 is built with two semiloops facing opposite directions from the shaft, a right leg shaft loop 24 and a left leg shaft loop 25. Each of right and left leg extension bars 22 and 23 has a slot 26 and 27 through which the appropriate leg shaft loops 24 and 25 extend and engage so that as the leg shaft 19 rotates, the leg shaft loops 24 and 25 also rotate causing the leg extension bars 22 and 23 to effect an up and down motion and as the leg extension bars 22 and 23 are pivoted about hip joint 3 shaft 21, the right leg 11 and the left leg 12 effect a flutter kick.

Attached to the leg shaft 19 in about the center thereof is the drive motor 28 (preferably a spring motor) causing leg shaft 19 to rotate in a counter-clockwise fashion. The drive motor 28 is fashioned in a manner known in the art. Likewise attached to leg shaft 19 is a large tooth gravitation lock gear 29. A weighted twopronged gravitational lock 30 is attached to the freely rotatable gravitational lock shaft 20 and designed to engage the teeth of the gravitational lock gear 29. This gravitation lock 30 is weighted so that its two teeth do not engage the teeth of the gravitational lock gear 29 when the swimming figure 10 is in horizontal position, face down, however displacement of the swimming figure 10 from the horizontal causes a rotation of the gravitational lock 30 and an engagement of one of its two teeth with the teeth of the gravitational lock gear 29 mounted to the driven leg shaft 19 causing a cessation of its rotation.

It is to be understood however that either the gravitation lock mechanism or the leg kicking mechanism or both can be eliminated from the drive mechanism 15 without affecting the swimming motion about to be described.

Arranged to the forward or top edge of the drive mechanism 15 is the arm shaft 18. This arm shaft 18 extends through the frame of the drive mechanism 15 and into the shoulder frame extensions 17 (only one of which is shown in FIGURE A large arm shaft gear 31 is attached to the arm shaft which gear 31 is in geared relation to an arm shaft driving gear 32 attached to the driven leg shaft 19. The ratio between the drive gear 32 and the driven gear 31 can be varied over a wide range, however it is preferably about 1:3. Attached to the outward extensions of the arm shaft 18 beyond the frame 16 of the drive mechanism 15 are a left arm tooth drive gear 33 and a right arm tooth drive gear 34. Adjacent to the two arm drive gears and mounted on the arm shaft 18 are two freely rotatable arm drive wheels, a left arm drive wheel 35 and a right arm drive wheel 36. These wheels are held on arm shaft 18 by cotter pins as is known in the art and are in the shape of an L with a hole 37 at the junction of the two arms adapted to receive the end 38 of the arm extension bars 39 and 40. Mounted on the arm drive wheels 35 and 36 are leaf springs 41 and 42 which engage the teeth of the arm drive gears 33 and 34. This enables each arm drive wheel 35 and/or 36 to be rotated counter-clockwise against the clockwise motion of the arm drive gears 33 and 34 whereby the arms can be positioned in any direction with respect to each other. This feature can be eliminated, if desired, and the arm drive wheels 35 and 36 can be permanently affixed to the arm drive shaft 18. Both the above feature and the arm drive wheels 35 and 36 can be eliminated also, when the arm extension bars 39 and 40 are permanently affixed directly to the arm drive shaft 18.

The arm extension bars 39 and 40 are mounted to a double joint shoulder joint (left 43, right 44) which are mounted on the shoulder frame extensions 17. The distance between the shoulder joints 43 and 44 and the hole 37 in the arm drive wheels 35 and 36 determines the depth of the stroke of the arms 11 and 12 in the water. It is preferable to have the arms 11 and 12 effect as deep a stroke as possible, therefore the arms 11 and 12 should depart from the horizontal or the axis of the arm shaft 18 by about 55. The rotation of the arm shaft 18 will then effect a rotation of the arms in a circular clockwise motion. This arm motion will circumscribe a 55 cone with its apex at the shoulder joints 43 and 44. The arms 11 and 12 can be positioned in straight fashion or can be slightly bent at the elbow as desired. A slight elbow bend effects a more natural swimming motion.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show two embodiments of a double joint shoulder joint 43 (or 44). Such double joints are well known in the art.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications known to those skilled in the art may be made in our invention as shown in the drawings and described herein, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A swimming figure having a rigid torso having shoulders and arms independently rotatably joined to said torso at said shoulders and means to rotate said arms around the junction to said torso, said means to rotate said arms comprising a drive means within said torso, an arm attachment means having a connection to said drive means, offset from the axis of rotation of said drive means, said arm attachment means being universally joined to said torso, means attaching each said arm whereby said arms in rotation circumscribe a cone with its apex at said shoulders.

2. The swimming figure of claim 1 containing a means in connection with said drive means to stop said drive means when the swimming figure departs from a horizontal position.

3. A swimming figure having a rigid torso having shoulders and thigs, arms rotatably joined to said torso at said shoulders, legs pivotally connected to said torso at said thighs, means to rotate said arms around the junction to said torso, said means to rotate said arms comprising a drive means within said torso, an arm attachment means having a connection to said drive means, offset from the axis of rotation of said drive means, said arm attachment means being universally joined to said torso, means attaching each said arm whereby said arms in rotation circumscribe a cone with its apex at said shoulders, means in connection with said means to rotate said arms to pivot said legs in a limited distance about the pivotable connection to said torso whereby said legs effect a fluttering motion, and means in connection with said drive means to stop the motion of said drive means when the swimming figure departs from a horizontal position.

References Cited 2/1949 Italy. 4/1949 Italy.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

L. J. BOVASSO, T. ZACK, Assistant Examiners. 

3. A SWIMMING FIGURE HAVING A RIGID TORSO HAVING SHOULDERS AND THIGS, ARMS ROTATABLY JOINED TO SAID TORSO AT SAID SHOULDERS, LEGS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID TORSO AT SAID THIGHS, MEANS TO ROTATE SAID ARMS, AROUND THE JUNCTION TO SAID TORSO, SAID MEANS TO ROTATE SAID ARMS COMPRISING A DRIVE MEANS WITHIN SAID TORSO, AN ARM ATTACHMENT MEANS HAVING A CONNECTION TO SAID DRIVE MEANS, OFFSET FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID DRIVE MEANS, SAID ARM ATTACHMENT MEANS BEING UNIVERSALLY JOINED TO SAID TORSO, MEANS ATTACHING EACH SAID ARM WHEREBY SAID ARMS IN ROTATION CIRCUMSCRIBE A CONE WITH ITS APEX AT SAID SHOULDERS, MEANS IN CONNECTION WITH SAID MEANS TO ROTATE SAID ARMS TO PIVOT SAID LEGS IN A LIMITED DISTANCE ABOUT THE PIVOTABLE CONNECTION TO SAID TORSO WHEREBY SAID LEGS EFFECT A FLUTTERING MOTION, AND MEANS IN CONNECTION WITH SAID DRIVE MEANS TO STOP THE MOTION OF SAID DRIVE MEANS WHEN THE SWIMMING FIGURE DEPARTS FROM A HORIZONTAL POSITION. 